Rye 1st Xl entertained Crawley Eagles on Saturday in a match sponsored by My Sweet Old Etcetera. Rye batted first seeking to cement their 3rd position against a team in a relegation slot. Rye, through Rye Concepts MOM James Hamilton, 100, continued their recent fine form with the bat. James Hamilton and skipper Harry Smeed 30 put on 59 for the first wicket.
The Rye batsmen then supported James Hamilton as he made his maiden league century. Hamilton was out with the score on 165, a flurry of two more wickets, was then followed by a 60-run partnership as Tobias Farrow, 24 not out, and Spencer Fielding, 26 not out, saw Rye to 220 -6 off 45 overs.
Crawley Eagles also found the Rye wicket to their liking as Sajeer Nizam 55 and Tanveer Haider 65 put on 106 for the first wicket. Rye then chipped away at the Crawley Eagles innings, led by Tobias Farrow 3-55 and Harry Smeed 2-24. However Rye could not stem the runs despite wickets falling. Crawley finally surpassed Rye’s total with 9 balls to spare with 7 wickets down. The disappointment of defeat was tempered by the news that Seaford in fourth had also tasted defeat.
So with one game to go, Rye play away to Hastings Priory 2nds, knowing that victory will mean a 3rd-place finish. A fantastic achievement for Rye for their first season in Division 3 East. It will be the highest point yet achieved by Rye Cricket Club in the Sussex pyramid of cricket.
Good result for 2nds
Rye 2nds have recently hit a run of good form and on Saturday produced another good result with a team of mainly home-grown youngsters. Rye batted first against Tunbridge Wells Borderers 1st Xl. Openers John Mackenzie 82 and Rowan Sharkey 83 shared a 160 run opening partnership. Rye finished on 197-7 off 40 overs.
After tea Rye continued their dominant performance as they dismissed Borderers for 84, with only one batsmen scoring double figures. Craig Pierce 2-11 started the downfall, then Freddie Mackenzie 3-13 and Jack Keen 3-11 continued the downward shape of the Borderers innings. The bowling was backed up by smart catching as Craig Pierce took 3 catches.
The result sees Rye rise to fourth in Division 6 East. A great performance, as the 2nds are now at the level the 1st Xl were 5 years ago. The 2nds finish off the league next Saturday with a fixture at home to Willingdon 1st Xl, in a match sponsored by The Mermaid Inn.
Little Common 3rd XI 246-9, Rye 3rd XI 108
Rye third team travelled to face league leaders Little Common thirds for their penultimate league fixture, and on winning the toss elected to field first.
The Rye opening bowlers both claimed wickets in their first overs with three wickets falling in quick succession. Ben Atkins and Berwick Smith then looked to re-build the innings before the latter fell to the bowling of Toby Channon (1-43) having scored 38.
Mike Stoneham (3-47) claimed the wickets of Steve Brook (45), Chris Shoesmith (17) and Phil Jack (11) before the return of George Jempson saw the dismissal of Ben Atkins (77) as he went on to finish with figures of 4-41 from 9 overs. Luke Hopkinson finished on 19 not out as Little Common completed their 40 overs on 246-9. David Jempson (1-25) was the other Rye wicket taker.
In reply Rye were reduced to 5-1 through the bowling of Harvey Jack (1-16) before a second-wicket partnership of 35 steadied the innings when George Jempson (16) became the first wicket of Luke Hopkinson (2-24).
Wickets then fell at more regular intervals with Nathan Westwood claiming figures of 1-4 from 5 overs and Steve Brook 4-13 from 8 overs including the seventh wicket of opener Paul Payton (33) a ninth and final wicket partnership of 24 finished when James Jury (13) was caught off the bowling of Jake Ralph (1-2) as 10-man Rye were dismissed for 108. Rye Thirds are now in a very creditable 4th place in the league, and have developed the skills of young people who are the future of Rye Cricket Club.
The under 16s
The U16s enjoyed a great week in the Sussex Junior Cricket Festival, winning 2, rained off in 1 and 1 defeat. The highlight of the week was a fantastic game against Bexhill. Rye scored 240-9, as Luke Payton hit 152 retired. Then dismissed Bexhill for 219 with Spencer Sharkey taking 4-27. Other highlights were David Jempson’s 3 catches against Buxted Park, and the great team spirit of the young people, who supported each other, and really engaged with the spirit of cricket.
This Saturday Rye will mark the end of a very successful season with a barbecue and a Junior Presentation night. The Adult Presentation evening is on Friday September 6, where a club dinner for 50 people will be hosted in the new Richard Merricks Room.
Image Credits: Rye News library .